Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-11-19
THE WHITE CAT

We called her the Duchess, so stately
and handsome was she; and WI We're all
very fond of her. All but my old friend
Tom Harding.
Directly YOU saw her your admiration
was caught; she was so large, her coat
was so luxuriant and white. and her tail
was so splendid. You wsuld exclaim:
"What a magnificent cre ture!' And
when she walked sedately TO you, placed
her great, soft forepaws On your knee,
and with gentle whimpcr gazed for u
moment into your face before proceeding
to the hearthrug. you would say delight
Ielly: What a perfect lady! What
charming manners! She almost speaks"'
We-that is my wife and I-were ac-
c,lstomed to remarks Of that kind. All
our friends made them upon first seeing
The Duchess" We expected them; we
looked forward 10 them, and they graft
fled us; for not having at that time been
blessed with children, we lavished much
of our spare affection and pride upon our
cat In the case of Tom Harding we
were disappointed. The introduction
went off very badly. When our favorite
was presented Tom regarded her with
positive aversion; when she rested on his
knee he brushed her off as though she
had been a snake. and rising abruptly he
walked TO the window.
Nv wife and looked at each other in
silent surprise. She raised her eyebrows.
and drew down the corners of her pretty
mouth as though TO say. This friend of
YOURS of whom vou have talked SO much
turns out to be perfect brute" could
only reply with a shrug of the shoulders
which said, MY dear. don't under
stand it at all" Nor did I. had not
seen Tom Harding for several years, but
l remembered him as really kind heart
ed. generous fcllow-ratLer inclined to
be melancholy. perhaps (his mother was
Irish and wrote poetry!l-but certainly
with nothing Of the brute about him.
When Tom returned from the window
he had another surprise for us. He had
consented to STAY few days with us; he
now announced that he bad overlooked
I'm his eagerness to lc with me. his old
friend. of courseJ certain very import
ant engagements, and that. in fact, he
would I've reluctantly compelled to return
to town that very evening. My friend
excused himself. addressing my wife.
J whose regret was not more than cour
q teous. in nervous. almost pleading tone.
Oh lie was SO sorry! ! didn't believe
him.
Tom, my boy"-we were sitting with
the decanter between us, after my wife
had left the dinner table-.'Tonl, my
boy" said. "you have no very import
ant engagements in town.
J That was nv opinion. and I took ar
old friends privilege Of expressing il
bluntly.
Tom started and colored slightly.
What makes YOU think so: he asked
triiling with the nut crackers.
Il don't know exactly, but I'm SURF
I'm right. You told Gertrude fib-be
careful or your glass will he over-bu'
YOU haven't the courage TO brazen it ou
with me?"
Nonsense! Why should l tell YOU
wife tib:'
"Why, indeed! 1t was very wrong o.
you-take another cigar il that one won 7
! burn-you can only make reparation BY
telling her husband the truth"
: NY dear fellow, l have nothing T.
confess" said Tom with slight irritabil
: i,y as he cut about half an inch of ;
I fresh cigar. How do hate to see goo,
cigars mutilated9
Confess why you changed your min'
about staying SO suddenly. Come,
, added. as he made no reply, I'm hell
r YOU. Some one in this house is obnox
ious TO you.
= Who can it be-" exclaimed Ton
banteringly. with view to hiding HI
: confusion.
Our beautiful cat chanced at that mo
ment to leap from the lawn to the Win
dow sill.
VI The Duchess" said quietly, point
u Ing with my cigar.
4 Tom Hardi:g turned pale-yes. this oil
q friend Of mine. a full grown man, actu
y ally turned pale at the sight of whit
!: cat on window sill. II was most eA
u traordlnary So great was my surpris
and curiosity that let my cigar go ou
The Duchess eyed us calmly for fe'
ig moments. and then jumping down sfl
Is walked over to Tom with the eviden
IL intention-forgiving creature!-of NAL
at ing another attempt to cultivate his ~
s. ouaintance. Tom rose and walked
y another part of the room.
W " For once your grace has failed
y conquer, I.remarked. STOPPING to care
~ NV favorite. Then led her ~ the do
and bowed her out.
Twas a little annoyed. and i suppo
no Tom guessed it, for he said when 1 r.
90 turned to the table: II am afraid "
u are offended with me.
n, Not with you. but with myster
~ ~, I hate mysteries let us change u
subject
No" he replied. nervously; Il o,
m. you an explanation. This disagreeaf
on incident has forced q confession up
or me-"
Let ss change the subject" l
peated. ,-
-, was beginning to pity him. he seem
,us SO distressed.
81. 1T is too late" he said III almost
spairing tones Il must explain, OF
49,. will think me either brute or . ma
,m- man, perhaps both. When ! have
DC. planned YOU won't tiink me worse IN
fool
ing H.. tossed of another glass of vii
W. w and turning his face away from the W:
dn- ing ia light, began ais story, which.
he be frank. was very curious TO hear. u
Ing withstandins my generous proposal
en- change the subject.
ing Il am going to tell you Of an incid'
of my childhooi's days, which, howe
or strange and unaccountsble it may app
we to YOU. is true in every particular.
are that solemnly assure YOU. The laps
yh, wears has not served 10 confuse or al
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